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===Practical Considerations===

The GPS device should be carried high up on the body within easy reach to facilitate frequent location checks. A mostly unrestricted view to the sky improves the GPS accuracy and minimizes the power consumption. Therefore it is not advisable to carry the GPS i.e. in a hip belt pocket.

To quickly reach my GPS in a location with such a good reception I constantly carry it on top of my shoulder. For this I glued a belt clip to the GPS and stitched a ribbon to my backpack shoulder strap. In this location I can easily reach my GPS and to not loose the device I hook it up with a rubber strap to a D-ring on the shoulder strap.

When packrafting it is particular important to have the GPS within easy reach to not miss critical river exit points. Dangerous rapids and waterfalls may be ahead! When packrafting we also connect the GPS with a string to the packraft or the PFD (Personal Flotation Device). In addition, we attach a flotation device to the GPS as the GPS is heavier than water and sinks to the ground if it falls accidentally into the water.

The plastic screen of a Garmin handheld GPS device is more robust than a typical smart phone glass screen but gets easily scratched. To maintain the screen in good condition I use a protective foil that can be replaced when worn.

==Backup GPS Navigation Device==

Relying on the Greater Patagonian Trail on a single electronic navigation device is negligent. A defect like a broken button can render the device useless. Should you lose your GPS on the trail you would not be the first one with this mishap. If your navigation device fails or get lost, you may try to backtrack relying only on your memory but if you are towards the end of a section with the food reserves depleted this is not an appropriate last resort. Also, some parts of route are too confusing to rely on memory.